Fall in the South Puget Sound

Fall in the South Puget Sound is very beautiful, so I'm sharing a few photos we took last fall.

Priest Point Park and Ellis Cove.

Chum salmon spawning in Mclane Creek.

Paddling on a very windy and rainy day out at Boston Harbor with our friend Matt (in red) who had just gotten a board and wanted to go out despite the weather.

Gull Harbor (south of Boston Harbor).

We get out on the Sound even on the coldest days!

Eric's Birthday (39th)

For Eric's 39th birthday we went to Portland. We stayed right downtown at the Hotel Monaco. It was a lot of fun and we got to take in some of Portland's best!

Oysters, of course, and good eats at the famous Oyster Bar.

The Hotel Monaco is more than pet friendly - they welcome your dog like she's a celebrity. See Carmen's name on the sign?

Carmen got her own bed and treat basket.

Carmen enjoying the reception with us and other hotel guests.

This is a picture of the 30+ minute continual line for Voodoo donuts. We did eventually get some donuts and ate way too many.

We went to Ground Kontrol where we played pinball and other arcade games in the wee hours. I think it was the 70's & 80's hit songs they played - it just kept you amped.

Holden Village

In early November I spent several days in Holden Village, a small Lutheran Bible Camp located in the eastern foothills of the Cascades - only accessible by a couple hour ferry ride up Lake Chelan. I was there to tour the Holden Mine Clean-up site as I'm providing technical assistance to the clean-up efforts as they relate to toxicity in the nearby Railroad Creek which is heavily contaminated by metals from the mine. The village was really sweet. I attended all the community events while I was there and even went running with a few villagers on some of the snowy mountain trails. It was a neat experience.

Self portrait at Donkey Falls

Donkey Falls

Snowy trail that we ran on.

Alaska

In October I had the opportunity to travel to Anchorage, Alaska with my Mom and her husband Doug. It was a packed and fun-filled weekend. We stayed with cousin Margaret. The main purpose of the trip was the Koniag Regional Native Corporation Annual Meeting. Mom ran for the board and did amazing! She didn't get enough votes this time, but got her voice out there. Shareholders were really receptive to her. Go Mom! The weather was clear and crisp - absolutely beautiful.

Cousin Margaret and her son David.

Mom's art table at the Koniag meeting.

Our rental van. It was perfect for road tripping.

All smiles on our late afternoon road trip to the Matanuska Glacier.

Yep, I think that says Boobies. I couldn't resist posting this.

Up the Matanuska River Valley. At this elevation it's already winter (no leaves on trees).

The Matanuska Glacier - we made it just before dusk!

Next day: road trip up the Turnagain arm (Cook Inlet). This picture was taken in the 2+ mile tunnel through the mountains to Whittier and Prince William Sound.

Whittier from our lunch window. Beautiful Day! I can just imagine Eric paddle boarding here.

Waiting for the bore tide...and then waiting some more......

Here comes the bore tide!

Makes you want to ride that wave! Folks sometimes do surf and kayak it.

We rode the tram up to the slopes Mt. Alyeska ski resort where we could see the Turnagain arm and watch para-sailors take off and ride the thermals. I'd love to snowboard here!

Amazing sunset looking west from the Turnagain arm to Alaska Range Mountains.

Looking East - Wow!

The moon rising up over the mountains and reflecting on the marsh.

Oyster Fest 2011

Another Oyster Fest in Shelton, WA. This has been a tradition for us since 1997 and one we really look forward to each fall.

Dad brought and old high-school friend that he had recently reconnected with.

Lopez Island

We were headed to Vancouver, B.C. for our vacation, but then a friend invited us to her cabin on Lopez Island (San Juans), so on a whim we decided to go since we had never been. We had a wonderful time eating lots of fresh Dungeness crab, paddle boarding, and exploring the island. Thanks to Susan and Brian!

Vacation glow.

Our friends' cabin is located in a perfect spot for ferry watching.

Carmen and her friend Bella watching Eric paddle.

Moon shine on the water just before dusk.

Yes, Carmen is a tent space hog. We had fun, but our tent is small.

Carmen voted most adventurous for going out to check crab pots!

Yum!

Beautiful sunset at Fisherman's Bay.

Bellingham

For our late-summer vacation in 2011, we stayed a couple nights at our friends cabin on Lopez Island (next blog post) and then a couple nights at Birch Bay campground near Bellingham, WA. It had been a while since we camped, so it was really fun to have hot dogs and smores and just sit around the campfire. During the days we explored Bellingham, a city very similar to Olympia.

Our campsite.

View of Birch Bay from our campsite.

Birch Bay beach.

Yummy eats in Bellingham's Fairhaven district.

Fairhaven farmer's market.